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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the stranger recall?

2. Who does Shimon see, with whom he is already acquainted?

3. What does the protagonist remember about his first evening with Kathleen?

4. What is the nurse's response?

5. Into what does he see his grandmother crammed?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Kathleen tries to talk to the protagonist?

2. What does the protagonist vow? What ends his memory?

3. What does he tell the nurse? What is her response? Why does he feel this way?

4. To what does the title refer?

5. How does the scene end?

6. What does the protagonist criticize in the first section of the novel?

7. What happens, moments after the protagonist and Kathleen meet?

8. What does the protagonist realize years later about his grandmother?

9. What does this time with Kathleen trigger?

10. What happens right before the accident?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel ends with the main character crying.

Part 1) For what is he shedding tears?

Part 2) Is he healed? Why or why not?

Part 3) Will his relationships with others be different now, after the destruction of the painting? Why or why not?

Part 4) Will he reconcile with Kathleen? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The main character thinks more about death than life.

Part 1) How does this affect his relationship with others?

Part 2) What would his grandmother think about this? Use the text to support your response.

Part 3) Based on this story, how does the author believe one can change and enjoy life?

Essay Topic 3

Dr. Paul Russel is a pivotal character in the story.

Part 1) Why is he a pivotal character?

Part 2) How does the protagonist interact with him? Why?

Part 3) How, in a sense, are the doctor/patient roles reversed?

(see the answer keys)

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